February 6, 2009

Jeff Owens, UGA's fifth year senior starting defensive tackle, has started a new blog called "The Real Deal," and one of his first posts is an article called "What Does It Mean to Wear the G?" It's a spectacular. Here's a highlight:

At first I did not understand what it meant; I did not know that I was not just playing for myself but for all the men that have ever worn the “G”. I tell the guys everyday that what we do here reflects on the whole program. Georgia football is bigger than any one player on the team. I asked some of my teams this same question, “what does it mean to wear the ‘G’?” Rod Battle said “playing for the ‘G’ is like competing for the United States in the Olympics. It’s my home state, a place where I’ll be forever connected to. Plus I have all the extended family members I have grown to love here."

He goes on to talk about what playing for the "G" has meant to him personally. But to cut and paste that would be to spoil it.

I bookmarked Jeff's blog. Besides being a down and dirty dgd he seems to be a level headed guy that truly appreciates where he is. It's always a pleasure reading about him, with the tough situation he was in last year, and his decision to stick around. While it's obvious (and fair) to say that it had partly to do with money, it's pieces like this that affirm he is here because he wants to be.

Goals National Championship, All American and outland trouphy. I like your style big man. D coming back with a vengenace next year. This squad will be the return of junkyard dawgs. No more pretty boys (on either side of the ball).

Speaking of Damn Good Dawgs, how 'bout some love for Kiante Tripp -- who will switch positions yet again this season, heading back to his favorite place at DE (where our depth chart is about a quart low). That's some fierce loyalty, too. I'm likin' the HEART of this year's squad!!

David Hale has a terrific version of the conversation between Kiante and Coach Richt:http://ugadogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/friday-football-notes-26.html

Anon 3:20 is dead-on: I'd give this to every freshman (hell, maybe every recruit) and encourage them to think about what it means to them. All the people who are cynical about college football, and don't think it means anything to the players beyond impressing NFL scouts, ought to have a look at this too.

It reminds me of what Joe Cox supposedly said when he took over the QB job at the end of the Colorado game, something like "If we can't score two times, we don't deserve to wear G's on our helmet." One of my favorite quotes.

Between those two guys and the energy and heart from a lot of our players (Curran always springs to mind), I may be more excited about this year than last. These guys want it, and not to say the team didn't want it last year, but I think these guys are going to get it.

Very glad Jeff is back. Wish it had been under better circumstances, of course, but maybe there's a reason for everything.